Tom Dillehay

[1] In 1977, Dillehay became involved in the excavations at Monte Verde, a site in Chile where an early human settlement was discovered in 1975.

Based on calibrated carbon 14 dates, Dillehay proposed that the remains found at Monte Verde are approximately 14,800 years old.

[3] This proposal based on his research at Monte Verde met with virulent resistance within the field of archaeology, but was ultimately accepted two decades later.

Dillehay began excavating Huaca Prieta in 2007, where he found evidence that people had lived in that area between 13,300 and 14,200 years ago.

[1] In addition to his archaeological work, Dillehay has conducted ethnographic research among the Mapuche people of southern Chile and the Jívaro community in northern Peru.